Buriram Test 2

Marco Bezzecchi made a massive statement on the final day of testing, shattering the all-time lap record with a staggering 1:28.668. The Italian, now fully settled into the factory Aprilia Racing team, delivered a late-session "time attack" that left the paddock stunned, finishing nearly a tenth clear of a resurgent Ai Ogura. Ogura's performance was equally impressive, securing an Aprilia 1-2 for the Trackhouse Racing squad and solidifying the Noale factory's status as the primary threat to the Ducati crown. The day was far more turbulent for the reigning world champion, Marc Márquez. Despite leading the morning session, the Spaniard suffered his third crash of the test at Turn 3 during a Sprint simulation. Márquez later admitted the tumble was a result of a lack of concentration due to a lingering virus, yet his morning time was still strong enough to secure 3rd overall. He narrowly edged out teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who focused heavily on long-run pace on used tires. Alex Márquez, the standout of the Sepang test, rounded out the top five but also ended his day prematurely following a crash at Turn 9. Down the order, Pedro Acosta remained the leading KTM in 6th, while Jorge Martín showed steady progress to finish 8th in his first full test of the year. For Yamaha, the struggle continued; Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo ended the pre-season over a second off the pace in 16th and 17th respectively. The session concluded with a general sense that while Ducati has the depth, Aprilia has found a special "one-lap" magic just in time for the Thai Grand Prix.